Letter to Emma Smith, 4 June
1834

considerable fever in consequence of taking
cold— and bro Foster who came from
Genseeo

Agricultural area twenty-five miles west of Canandaigua. Incorporated as village, 1832. Population in 1840 about 900. While recruiting for Camp of Israel, JS and Sidney Rigdon preached to large congregation at conference in village, 16 Mar. 1834. Geneseo ...

who was taken last evening with the
Typhus Fever, but are both better to day,
and we are in hopes will be able to proceed on their journey
to morrow, I have been able to
endure the fatigue of the journey
far beyond my most sanguine expectations, except have been troubled some
with lameness, have had my feet blistered, but are now well, and have also
had a little touch of my side complaint, Bro
Harper
Harpin Riggs

12 Apr. 1809–2 Nov. 1865. Farmer, cooper. Born in Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Riggs and Susan Pitcher. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Served as election clerk, 8 Sept. 1830, in Kirtland. Baptized into LDS church by 15 ...

is now able to
travel all day & his health is improving very fast, as is the case
with all the weakly ones, Addison Wren has been an
exceeding good boy and has been very obedient to me in all things, as much
so as tho I was his own father, and is healthy and able to travel all day.
William Smith

26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into LDS church by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Labored on Kirtland temple...

has been afflicted with
his eyes, but they are getting better, and in fine, all the Camp

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

is in
as good a situation as could be expected; but our numbers and means are
altogether too small for the accomplishment of such a great enterprise,
but they are falling daily and our only hope is that whilst we deter the
enemy, and terrify them for a little season (for we learn by the means of
some spies we send out for that purpose that they are greatly terrified)
notwithstanding they are endeavoring to make a formidable stand, and their
numbers amount to several hundred, and the Lord shows us to good advantage
in the eyes of their spies, for in counting us they make of our 170 men from five to seven
hundred and the reports of the people are not a little calculated
to frighten and strike terror through
their ranks for the general report is that four or five hundred Mormons
are traveling through the Country well-armed, and disciplined; and that five
hundred more has gone a south west and expect to meet us, and also another
company are on a route North of us, all
these things serve to help us, and we believe the hand of the Lord is in
it, Now is the time for the Church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

abroad to come to Zion.
It is our prayer day and night that God will open the heart of the
Churches to pour in men and means to assist us, for the redemption and upbuilding of
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

to use every exertion to influence the Church to come speedily to our
relief. Let them come pitching their tents by the way, remembering to keep
the sabbath day according to the
articles and covenants

A foundational document presented at the first conference of the church for the approval of church members. The Articles and Covenants included a brief historical prologue, a declaration of beliefs, and a description of the offices, ordinances, and procedures...

the same as at
home, buying flour and cooking their own provision which they can do, with
little trouble, and the expence will be trifling. We have our company
divided into messes of 12 or 13— each having a cook and cooking utensils, all
that is necessary; so that we are not obliged to trouble any mans house,
and we buy necessaries such as butter, sugar and honey, so that we live as
well as heart can wish. After we left the eastern part of the State of
Ohio

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

we could get provision on an average as
follows; flour by the hundred $1.50, bacon from 4½ to 6 dollar per Hundred
butter from 6 to 8 cents pr pound, honey from 3 to 4 shilling the gallon,
new milk from 4 to 6 ct per gallon. The
whole of our journey, in the midst of so large a company of social honest
and sincere men, wandering over the plains of
the Nephites

A term used in the Book of Mormon to refer to the descendants and followers of Nephi, as well as those who later identified themselves as Nephites for religious reasons. According to JS and the Book of Mormon, Lehi and Sariah, Nephi’s parents, and their family...

considerable fever in consequence of taking
cold— and bro Foster who came from
Genseeo

Agricultural area twenty-five miles west of Canandaigua. Incorporated as village, 1832. Population in 1840 about 900. While recruiting for Camp of Israel, JS and Sidney Rigdon preached to large congregation at conference in village, 16 Mar. 1834. Geneseo ...

who was taken last evening with the
Typhus Fever, but are both better to day,
and we are in hopes will be able to proceed on their journey
to morrow, I have been able to
endur[e] the fatigue of the journey
far beyond my most sanguine expectations, except have been troubled some
with lameness, have had my feet blistered, but are now well, and have also
had a little touch of my side complaint, Bro
Harper
[Harpin] Riggs

12 Apr. 1809–2 Nov. 1865. Farmer, cooper. Born in Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Riggs and Susan Pitcher. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Served as election clerk, 8 Sept. 1830, in Kirtland. Baptized into LDS church by 15 ...

is now able to
travel all day & his health is improving very fast, as is the case
with all the weakly ones, Addison Wren has been an
exceeding good boy and has been very obedient to me in all things, as much
so as tho I was his own father, and is healthy and able to travel all day.
William [Smith]

26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into LDS church by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Labored on Kirtland temple...

has been afflicted with
his eyes, but they are getting better, and in fine, all the Camp

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

is in
as good a situation as could be expected; but our numbers and means are
altogether too small for the accomplishment of such a great enterprise,
but they are falling daily and our only hope is that whilst we deter the
enemy, and terrify them for a little season (for we learn by the means of
some spies we send out for that purpose that they are greatly terrified)
notwithstanding they are endeavoring to make a formidable stand, and their
numbers amount to several hundred, and the Lord shows us to good advantage
in the eyes of their spies, for in counting us the[y] make of our 170 men from five to seven
hundred and the reports of the people are not a little calculated
[to] frighten and strike terror through
their ranks for the general report is that four or five hundred Mormons
are traveling through the Country well-armed, and disciplined; and that five
hundred more has gone a south west and expect to meet us, and also another
company are on a rout[e] North of us, all
these things serve to help us, and we believe the hand of the Lord is in
it, Now is the time for the Church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

abroad to come to Zion.
It is our prayer day and night that God will open the heart of the
Churches to pour in men and means to assist us, for the redemption of Zion and upbuilding of
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

to use every exertion to influence the Church to come speedily to our
relief. Let them come pitching their tents by the way, remembering to keep
the sabbath day according to the
articles and covenants

A foundational document presented at the first conference of the church for the approval of church members. The Articles and Covenants included a brief historical prologue, a declaration of beliefs, and a description of the offices, ordinances, and procedures...

the same as at
home, buying flour and cooking their own provision which they can do, with
little trouble, and the expence will be trifling. We have our company
divided into messes of 12 or 13— each having a cook and cooking utensils, all
that is necessary; so that we are not obliged to trouble any mans house,
and we buy necessaries such as butter, sugar and honey, so that we live as
well as heart can wish. After we left the eastern part of the State of
Ohio

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

we could get provision on an average as
follows; flour by the hundred $1.50, bacon from 4½ to 6 dollar per Hundred
butter from 6 to 8 cents pr pound, honey from 3 to 4 shilling the gallon,
new milk from 3 4 to 6 ct per gallon. The
whole of our journey, in the midst of so large a company of social honest
men and sincere men, wandering over the plains of
the Nephites

A term used in the Book of Mormon to refer to the descendants and followers of Nephi, as well as those who later identified themselves as Nephites for religious reasons. According to JS and the Book of Mormon, Lehi and Sariah, Nephi’s parents, and their family...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...